Continuing with the policy overdrive initiated in the last few weeks, the prime minister has now steered fast-tracking of the development and use of inland waterways transport (IWT) involving the private sector and public sector undertakings.
At a meeting of the inter-ministerial coordination committee, principal secretary to the prime minister Pulok Chatterjee said a tripartite agreement signed between the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and a private developer had led to competitive transportation rates for the NTPC.
The agreement related to the Farakka power project has ensured commitment of private sector investment of Rs 650 crore, the prime minister’s office said in a release.
Among other decisions taken at the meeting, NTPC will provide long-term cargo commitment for three million tonnes of coal for Barh power project once its five units are operational by 2016-17.
The execution of coal handling facility at Jogighopa and rail connectivity will be taken up under the Non-lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR) scheme.
Food Corporation of India (FCI) will expeditiously provide long-term cargo commitment for three years for transportation of foodgrains to Tripura and Assam from Kolkata and within Assam.
With this, the ministry of external affairs will try to extend the period of trade and transit protocol beyond March 2012 when it comes for renewal to provide longer certainty to vessel operators.
“Efforts would be made for early completion of Ashuganj multi-modal port by Bangladesh and its regular use as a transit port,” said the release.
Another step decided at the meeting was the ministry of shipping would consider providing additional money to ensure night navigation facilities on the Indo-Bangladesh protocol route.
ONGC and Oil India will convey a firm commitment of cargo through inland water transport (IWT) in two weeks to IWAI and CONCOR will provide firm commitment for transportation of part of their container cargo from Pandu through IWT.
The progress on these decisions will be reviewed in two months by Chatterjee, principal secretary to the prime minister.
“The initiative will harness huge potential of inland waterways in transporting bulk cargo such as coal, food grains, fertilisers, project cargo, fly ash, over dimensional cargo and containers at competitive cost for the public and private sector companies,” the release said, adding that adequate use of waterways would ease the burden on rail, road infrastructure.
